Vacuum line boiler feed and water heater



March 1936. c. B. CASSITY 2,032,400

VACUUM LINE BOILER FEED AND WATER HEATER Filed Jan. 8, 1934 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES VACUUM LINE BOILER FEED AND WATER HEATER Charles B. Cassity, Kansas City, Mo., assignor of one-half to Robert Mellon, Kansas City, Mo.

Application January 8, 1934, Serial No. 705,733 1 Claim. (o1..122-45s) This invention relates to boiler-water preheating systems for plants having steam-operated machines, and particularly cleaning and pressing establishments embodying pressing machines that utilize steam to create a vacuum within the presser, whereby moisture is drawn from the garments being pressed.

One of the primary aims of the invention is the provision of such a system that will facilitate the Y 2 operation of the entire system by preheating the water that is periodically fed to the boiler of the system through such mediums as the heat from the exhaust steam and heat conducted through the flue of the system, all for the purpose of utilizing what would normally be a large number of wasted heat units.

In systems with which an auxiliary water heating plant contemplated by this invention might be used, it is common practice to replenish the water supply of the relatively small boiler from time to time and when such replenishment takes place, it always becomes necessary to allow time to create a head of steam that is sufiicient to continue operating the pressing machine. It has been found advantageous, therefore, to supply water to the boiler that has been raised to a temperature as high as possible and the manner in which the parts making up the system contemplated will not only permit heating the water for the boiler without the use of additional heating means, but will also serve as a means for allowing the preheated water to flow into the boiler when pressure in the boiler and tank is equalized.

With the foregoing broad objects in mind, the invention will be described by reference to the system illustrated in the accompanying drawing, said system being diagrammatically arranged so that its application to the well known plant having pressing machines and boiler therefor is made clear.

To utilize heat units normally escaping from a steam-operated cleaning and pressing establishment, it is necessary to provide a storage tank 2, having a capacity substantially equal to the capacity of the plant boiler, not here shown and positioned above the latter so that water will flow by gravity from tank 2 tothe plant boiler. At the outset, tank 2 must be filled with water and to permit the escape of air from within tank 2 during such filling, a bleeder 4 of conventional type, having its outlet port 6 within tank 2 and adjacent the top thereof, is provided.

A connection to tank 2 from the city water supply is made through the medium of pipe 8,

jacket l0,-pipe l2 and thence pipe I4. A manually controlled valve I6 is interposed within pipe I2 as is a check valve l8, and pipe l4 extends into storage tank 2 to terminate at the upper part thereof, as clearly shown in the drawing. Jacket I0 is merely an enlarged chamber formed in the water supply line leading from the regular supply means to tank 2 and it is through jacket it that exhaust pipe 26 must extend in order to fulfill one of the salient objects of the invention. 10

Exhaust pipe 20 leads from the machines that are operated by steam and is usually called the vacuum line, presumably because partial vacuum or a suction is set up within the chamber of the pressing machine, whereby moisture from the 15 garments being pressed is withdrawn. Steam passing through exhaust pipe 20 will obviously impart heat to the water within jacket I0 and since the water remains therein for a period of time, or until it is moved on into tank 2, it is to 20 be understood that the temperature of this water will be raised appreciably before it ever even reaches storage tank 2.

A line 22 extends from the bottom of tank 2 to the boiler of the plant and a manually controlled valve 24 is set into this line, whereby the same may be opened or closed. A check valve 26 is also used to preclude pressure within the boiler from setting up any force within tank 2. A pipe 28, utilized to carry steam from the boiler of the plant to tank 2, connects with pipe l4 adjacent the point where it enters tank 2. A main control valve 30 is included in this steam line 28 and a gauge 32 is used to indicate the pressure within tank 2. After the water destined to be used in the plant boiler is passed from jacket H] to tank 2, it will circulate by a thermosyphonic action through a continuous coil 34 disposed within flue 36 which forms a part of the regular plant equipment. One end of coil 34 is in communication with tank 2 at the bottom thereof, while its other end is attached to the tank at its top. So long as the temperature within flue 36 is higher than the temperature of water within tank 2, circulation will be set up so that heat will be imparted to the water as it passes through flue coil 34.

With a combination of parts arranged as above set down and associated with the regular well known plant equipment, it becomes obvious that when valves I6 and 24 are opened and check valves l8 and 26 are in operation, manipulation of valve 30 to allow steam to pass from the plant boiler through line 28 into tank 2 will cause an equalization in pressure and the water from tank 2 will flow by gravity through pipe 22 into the boiler. It is important that valves l6 and 24 be opened only after the boiler pressure becomes higher than the pressure of the city water supply.

As soon as the plant boiler is filled by water passing from tank 2, valve is closed and any steam remaining in tank 2 will condense so that the force of the city water supply through pipe 8, jacket I!) and pipes and 14 will again refill tank 2. Check valve 18 allows the flow of. water in the direction just indicated, but precludes steam from passing toward jacket I!) through pipe l2 when valve 30 is opened to force water from tank 2 to the plant boiler. Check valve 26 is also arranged so that water may pass freely to the boiler through pipe 22, but passage from boiler to tank 2 is precluded.

It must be understood that any number of exhaust pipes 20 may pass through jacket l0 and that the length of coil 34 may be varied to suit the size of flue or fire box. 'Valves l6 and 24 should be kept closed until the pressure within the plant boiler is above the city water supply pressure. 7

A system of the character just described is exceptionally valuable when used with pressing machines where relatively small boilers are employed and the introduction of cold water thereto:

when filling has a tendency to retard speed, continuous operation of the pressing machine.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A boiler water preheating system adapted. for use with a small capacity boiler of a garment pressing machine having an exhaust pipe, comprising a water storage tank of substantially the same capacity as the said boiler located higher than the boiler to permit water to flow from the tank to the boiler; a Water supply line opening into said tank having an enlarged portion having a capacity substantially equal to the capacity of the said storage tank and the boiler of the garment pressing machine respectively, and a valve to close the water supply line between the said storage tank and said enlarged portion; a valved pipe interconnecting said storage tank and the boiler; means to heat the Water in said storage tank; and a pipe having a valve therein interconnecting the boiler and water supply line at .a point along the latter adjacent its connection with the storage tank to equalize the pressure'in boiler and storage tank and permit flow of .water by gravity from the storage tank to the boiler when the valve in the valved pipe is open, said exhaust pipes of the pressing machines extending through the said enlarged portion of the water supply line to impart heat from the exhaust steam to the water in said enlarged portion.

CHARLES B. CASSITY. 

